Improvement in vent-plugs



dnithtatea anni (einer.

Letters Patent No. 111,664, dated February 7, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT lN VENT-PLUGS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

We, CHARLES H. MILLER and WILLIAM As- COUGH, of the city of Buialo, county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and improved Vent-Plug for Beer-Casks, of which the following is a specification.

The first part of our invention consist-s ct' a screwspindle, around which au elastic cord is wound, which cord is attached to a valve upon the lower end of the bore of the plug, and serves to force said valve to its seatn The second part of our invention consists in the combination,'with the above, ot' a spiral spring interposed between the valve and a bearing formed in the bore of the plug, for the purpose of forcing the valve open as soon as the strain ofthe elastic cord, hy turning the screw-spindle, is relaxed.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure I is a vertical section ot'our improved ventplug'.

Figure II is a horizontal section ,of suine.

Letters of like name and kind reier to like parts in each of the figures. .v

A represents a vent-plug, which may be ol' ordinary shape and size, and is provided with a vertical bore, a, and a horizontal passage, ai, opening out-y wardly.

B is a screw-spirulle, which tits loosely' in the horizontal passage, its head projecting upon the outside of the plug. lt is screwed upon the inside, into the solid portion ot' the'plug, opposite the passage C is a valve which covers up the lower end of -thc bore a, and is suspended upon an elastic cord, l).

The other end ot' this cord is fastened to and wound around the screw-spindle in such manner that when the'screw is turned in one direction the valve is forced to its scatand hence the vent closed, and when the screw is turned in the opposite direction thc valve is released and opened to admit air into the cask through the passage fr and bore al.

E represents a spiral spring, which is interposed between the valve C and a shoulder or bearing formed within the bore al. The object of this spring is to open the valve as soon as the strain of the elastic cord is diminished and it becomes loose, by the turning of the screw-spindle B.

The operation of our improved veilt-plug is simple and calculated to meet all the requirements ot' those using the article.

The vent may be applied by the brewer to the barrels or kegs which he slls to the retailer in the place of the common plug which is now used, and when rc- V moved by the retailer seldom returned to the brewer. Our improved vent-plug presents the same outward appearance as the common plug, with the exception allow the contents to ow more freely from the faucet,

the screw-spindle is turned to the left by taking hold of its head projecting upon the outside o't` the plug. lhc clastic'cord being thus unwound from the spindle, its strain upon the valve will be relaxed, and the suction created by the drawing oft' ot' the contents of the keg will overcome the tension of the cord yet remaining, andthe valve will open suiiciently to supply the demand ot' air upon the inside of the keg.

When the keg is nearly empty the expansive qual-v ity of the beer which presses from the inside against the valve is gradually'diminished, and it will become necessary to increase and regulate thc pressure ofthe valve against its seat by turning the screw-spindle to the right, thus winding the cord upon the spindle,

\Vhen our improved vent-plug is used by brew'ers in the place oi' the common plug, thc spindle should be Screwed into its bearingtightly, so as not only to cover the mouth of the passagec'i with the head of the screw, but also to wind up the cord on the spindie and increase the tension of the cord upon the valve, thereby providing. a double safeguard against beer escaping from or ain entering the keg while the same is carried or transported from place to place,

rolled over, or carelessly handled.

lhc spring E serves to facilitate the opening of the valve by suction in casel the valve should become sticky or otherwise obstructed, but`the tension of the elastic cord should always be sogrcat as to overcome the action of the spring.

We claim as our invention- 1. 'lhesciew-spindle lli, the valve O, and the elastic cord l) connecting the saine, in combination with the plug A, said parts being constructed, arranged,

and operating substantially as herein described.

2. In combination withV the above, thc spiral spring E, for the purpose 'and' substantially as herein set forth.

Signed at Buffalo, June 20, 1870.

CHARLES vH. MILLER. WM. ASOOUGH.

Witnesses MARsDnN DAVEY, B. H. MUEHLE. 

